Flying-machine.



S. H. BENOIST, DECD.

- M. E. BENOIST, ADMINISTRATRIX.

FLYING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 20, 1910.

Patents d Sept. 10,1912.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

Loss-m3.

llfimeasea Inventor- S. H. BENOIST, DBCD- M. E. BENOIST, ADMI-NISTRATEIX.

FLYING MACHINE.

APPLIOATION FILED mmzo, 1910.

Patented Sept. 10, 1912.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

ll z'tneaaes:

U ITED STATES PATENT OFFICE. snowman-n. BENors'r, or Los Dreams, CALIFORNIA; MARIE EUGENIA' nnnols'r ADMINISTRAT-RIX or sam sANeUInn'r HUBEn'r nnnors'r, DECEASED.

3 is a plan view, with all,parts in FLYING-MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent. Application filed January 20, 1910. Serial No.,539, 201.

Patented Sept. 1Q, 1912.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, SANGUINET H. vBr:- NOIST, a citizen'of the United States, residing at Los Angeles, in the county of Los Angeles and State of California, have invented a new and useful Flying-Machine, of which the following is a specification.

The object of my inventlon is to roduce a machine, which, though heavier t an air, can-raise itself 'from the ground, without a running start, to any desired height,-to remain, as a humming bird, hovering over any given spot, at any desired altitude, in spite of the strongestwind; to raise or lower itself, at will, while in the air; and to propel itself in any v desired direction; all at a rate of speed entirely under.-; the control of the'operator.

Other objects may appear from the accompanying plans and specifications.

I attain these objects by means of the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a front elevation of the entire flying machine; Fig. 2 is avertical mid-section on line in, Figs.,1, 3, and 6; Fig. lace; Fig. 4 '1s a plan section on w, igs. 1

and 2, with driving machinery removed;

Fig. 5 is a plan section on line as, Figs. 1 and 2, with engine and driving machinery removed; Fig.6 is a jlan section on line 00, Figs. 1 and 2; is an'enlarged fragmental detail of a side port-hole cover, sectioned on line at, Fig. 6; and Fig. 8 is an enlarged fragmental. detail, sectioned on line as, Fig. 6.

-Direction of sight is indicated by arrows on the several views.

Similar numbers refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

The framework of the flying machine consists of three compartments; the up r, or

lifting compartment (1); the mid le, or

propelling compartment (2) and the lower,

or operating compartment The upper and lower com artments (i1 and 3) are virtually openywfiile the middle compartment (2) isalmost completely inclosed,-save for the top thereof, which is entirely open.

The three compartments just mentioned are described in detail, in order, commencin with the lowest, as follows: Thebase o the lower compartment (Fig. 5) consists of acircular rim, (4) with radial arms (5) connecting the central nucleus (6), which is circular, save for the rectangular proiection (7), that is connected by the arms (8 with a platformv (9). The platform (9) is joined to the inclosing rim (4) and formsa part thereof. Bracing arms (10) extend to the arms (5). The nucleus (6) is pierced at its center by ahole (17), through which passes the shaft (18). On the under-side of the nucleus (6) is a thrust bearin (19), within which rotate the .end of the s aft (18) and its collar (20). Equidistant struts (11), of equal height, extend upward to and depend from the middle com artment (2), suspending the rim ,,(4) therefrom.

The base of the middle compartment (2) consists of a circular plate (12), shown in ..'plan in Fig. 4, in which there is a large centraLopening (13), traversed by diametrical arms (14). The centerof these arms (14) is pierced by a hole (16), through which the shaft, (18) also passes. Other openlngs (21) occur in the bottom plate, the purpose of which will appear hereafter. The openings (22) pierce the plate (12), and through them pass the lower ends of the shafts (23) into the thrust bearings (24). Collars (25) are also provided for the shafts (23). The entire base of the middle compartment (2) is surrounded and surmounted by a cylindrical wall (26) forming, with the base (12), a tank, en tirely open at the top, but closed on the side,

save for the openings, or port holes (27, 28,

29, and 30), and closed on the bottom (12), save for the openings therein alread described. Each of the port holes (2 28, 29, and 30) is provided with a sliding cover (31, 32, 33, and 34), of the same shape as the port holes, and a trifle larger, so as to completely cover the same when drawn over them. Ball races (35) are provided, of suitable length to allow each cover (31, 32, 33 and 34) to be drawn completely to one si e of the port holes (27,28, 29, and 30),

'thus allowing the port holes (27, 28, 29, .and 30) to be partiall or entirely opened. In Fi 6, the cover 31) is shown to one side, 0 its port hole (27), while the covers (32, 33, and 34) are'over their respective port holes (28, .29, and The structure of the ball races (35). is shown in Fig. 7. To the'bottomplate (112) is fastened. the flange (361); WhOSecross section is shown in said efigure ijpst below. the ball (as); and' smal to the cover (31) is fastened the flange (37), the cross sectionof which is also shown said drawing or figure just above the ball (38.) Between these two plates (36 and 37) are balls (38) of proper siz eand number to cause the plate (37) to roll over the plate (36) without grazing or \vabbling.

The openings (21) are also provided with sliding covers (21), of the sameshape as the openings (21) and a trifle larger, so as to completely cover the same when drawn over them. These covers are attached to the ball races (39 and 40), as shown in Fig. 8. The two ball races (39 and 40) form complete concentric circles. To the bottom plate (12) of the middle compartment are fastened the plates (41 and 41)"grooved to fit the balls (42). Fitting over these is the plate (43) for ball race (39), and the plate for ball race (40). The balls (42) are of sufiicient number and so distributed, and the various other parts 01 the ball races just described, are of such proper size as to insure the rolling of the upper plates (43 an'd44) without grazing anyot er part, or wabbling. By tastening the covers (21') rigidly to the upper plates(1 and of the ball races (39 and 40) practically a one-piece cover is formed for the openings (21). In Fig. 6, the covers (21) are shown to the right from over the openings e i g pe entir ly Op .To move t e covers (31, 32, 33., and 34) back and forth, each of them is provided with a rope or chain (55, 56, 57 and 58 respectively) and'sheaves (59, 60, 61, and 62 respectively), by which the covers (31, 32, 33," and 34) are separately drawn over or from over the portfiholes' (27, 28., 29, and 30).' The manner of and mechanism for controlling these movements'of the cover (31) will "explain that of the covers (32 33, and 34) also. The rope or chain (55) is'fastened to the cover (31) at its side (45.), and 1passes over' a pulle (46) throu 'h a opening at 11 h plac 3 to the underside thereof; thence, in di-' r ti d a y ar s, u d n ath h p t 2), and along a und r th r ss arms (14), as indicated, to thesheave (59) thence, continuing in the direction indicated by arrows, through- 'an opening at (63) in the plate (12) to 'the upper surface of said plate, and over the pulley (64),as indicated, to the edge (65) of the cover (31), to which it is also attached. Pulleys, not shown'in the drawings, supportthe rope or chain (55,) at points where'a-change of direction is indicated. Y The sheave (59) is mounted on a horizontal axle (66), mounted on the support"(67) which, in turmrests on the platform (9). A crank (68) causes the axle (66) and-sheave (59) to rotate to-rightor left, as desired; The sheave (59) is pro-' 'vided with a grooved rim to guide the rope or chain (55), and'the rope or chain is drawn taut, so that any motion 01? sa d sheave to right or left will be communicated to said rope. Byturning the crank (68).

to the right, thecover (31) is drawn from over'tlie porthole (27); and by turning h c k we t ch e; th cover (an drawn'over the porthole (27). The sheaves 9, 0, 1 162) a e a l u d onrthe same support (67). w i

The p1ates'(21")' are drawn over or from over the openings 21,) b a device'similar to'the one just describe consisting of a rope or chain (69), fastened to theupper plate (44) of the ball race 40) at points ('70 and 71) of location su'itab e to allow the requisite amount o f'motion'; This'rope or chain (69) passes above the plate (12), through openings at 'Z 2 and 73) and thence over the sh ave (7 5) ,of construction similar to (59, 60, 6 and 62) and mounted on pp r 6); wh i t r rests upon h p a f r (9)- At r i g f th h a e (75) to the right opens; and to the left, closes h Openings i)- Arrows on every rope or chain shown in all the drawings indicate the direction iii which the particular ro e Graham to be drawn to open a port hdle or other openingi.

The upperfcompartment consists of equidistant, upright arms, or struts ),surm u in he ylindri a a (26); and s pporting the circular rim (81), fromwhich radial arms (82) seek the common center (83). The 211 1 5 (82) are pierced by holes (84), and the center ispieroed' by a hole (85). At the points where holes (8 4 and 85) occur, thearms (82) and the center (83) 'are enlarged, as shown the drawings, to support the thrustbearings (86). Th thru t ma ina '(86) a h 11mvided with oil cups (87). The shafts 23) pass through the holes (84) and end in the thrust bearings (86), which aredirectly over th Cell (1 .8)." a p 'o id' d' a: e h f th ha t (23), Th a t passes through-the hole' j(85) into the'thriist bearing (86),'i'n' it ends. A Collar (89) is also provided for the shaft Upon each of the shafts 23) is" ahorizontal fan wheel (90), so mounted as to ro-- pinions (101), the pinions and the pinions (,101) being rigid on the same shafts.

Upon the shaft (18) is a largecog-wheel (103), so mounted as to rotate with it, which engages the cog-wheels (94, 95, and 96) and the pinions (101). Near the lower end of the shaft 18) is a rigidly mounted beveled gear wheel (104), which engages the beveled gear wheel (104) The wheel (104) is rigidly mounted on the end of the, engine shaft (105), to which power is directly communicated from the engine (106).

(107) is an outboard bearing for the shaft (105), and is mounted on the projection (7)..

(108) is a railing surrounding the platform (9) as a protection to the operator, who stands upon this platform. i

The wheels (109), of which there are two more on the opposite side, not shown in Fig. l, are added for convenience in moving the flying machine from place to place along the ground. These wheels are shown in Fig. 1 only. The lifting power is in the fan wheel (90), which are set in motion by the mecha nisni already described, as follows: The shaft (105) and wheel (104) are set in mo?v tion by the engine (106) and this motion is communicated to the wheel (104) and shaft (18), which rotates the wheel (103). This, in turn, through the cog wheels (94, 95, and 96) and the pinions (100) and (101), set rotating the shafts (23), and consequently the fan wheels 90). The fan wheels (90) rotate in the directions indicated b the arrows in Fig. 3, three of them to t e right, and three of them to the left. It will be noted that the fan wheels (90) are mounted in pairs on three different levels, and that the fan wheels (90) of each horizontal pair [rotate in opposite directions. This is what makes necessary the pinions (100 and 101), 2'. e. the cog wheels (94, 95, and 96) must rotate in a direc tion opposite to the cog wheels (97, 98, and 99), which is accomplished through the intermediate pinions (100 and 101) giving the cog wheels which engage them a differ exit-direction than those which do not, but which et their motion directly from the wheel 103). The cog wheels (94, 95, 96, 97, 98, and 99) and the pinions (100- and 101) are made'with such a number of gear teeth each as to cause the shafts (23') to rotate at the same speed, though three of them rotate to the right, and three of them to the left. The fan wheels (90) when in motion as described, cause powerful downwardly directed-air currents, and the setting of the air'thus in motion causes a tendency upward which is suflicient .to raise the entire flying machine from the ground into the air to any desired height, at a speed which may be varied by varying the speed of rotation of the fan wheels (90). f

Tlfe placing of tie fan wheels (90) upon three different levels, as shown' in the drawings, allows the over-lapping arrangement shown in Fig.v 3; and byplacing said fan wheels so that the center of each wheel oc cupies the angle of a regular hexagon, as shown in Fig. 3, I o btainthe most compact arrangement possible; andeach higher pair of fans in motion cause downward currents of air, which act upon the next lower pair, giving them an added lifting power. By arranging the fan wheels in pairs, there is also a tendency to draw the air toward a point midway between their centers, thus also giving an added lifting power.

The 'powerful air currents which are set in motion in a downward direction by the whirling of the fan wheels (90) are forced into the middle compartment (2) through its open top, and meet resistance to their free passage downward in the bottom plate (12) and the side wall (26), and only a part of the air is allowed to escape through the opening The rest of the air is imprisoned in the middle compartment (2), and the force of the continuous currents from above, caused by the fan wheels (90), as described, raiseswthe pressure of the air within the middle compartment (2) above that of the surrounding atmosphere, and it seeks escape through whichever of the port holes (27, 28, 29 and 30) or the openings (21) may be, for the time, left open. That which escapes through one of the port holes (27, 28, 29, and 30) forms a horizontal jet,

which reacts upon the flying machine, causing an equal and opposite reaction, thus furnishing power to propel the flying machine from right to left, or from back to front, or vice versa, according to which of the openings or port holes (27, 28, 29, and 30) are opened. The speed may be re ulated by varying the extent to which the desired port hole (27, 28, 29, and 30) are opened. The opening and closing of these port holes is, of course, effected by the mechanism already described in connection therewith. To cause the flying machine to move forward, the port hole (28) at the rear of the flying machine is opened; to cause it to move backward, the port hole (30) at the front of the machine is opened; to cause the flying machine to move to the right, the port hole (27) at the left of the flying machine is opened; and to cause the flying machine to move to the left, the port hole (29) at the right of the machine is opened. By opening these port holes two at the same time, directions intermediate to those just indicated may be accomplished. The 'specd of travel may also be partly regulated by cutting off or increasing the flow of air through the port holes (27, 28, 29, and 30), by drawing the covers (21") from over, or by drawing the covers (21) .over the holes (21), thus allowing more or lesstasthfe case may be) air to escape through the bottom opening's (21) instead of through the port holes (27, 28, 29, and 30),,the former motion of the covers (21) reducing the horizontal speed, and the latter motion of the covers (21) increasing the horizontal speed.

The middle compartment (2), together with the covers (31, 32, 33, 34, and 21') and all the mechanism for controlling their movements, may be dispensed with, and the flying machine be propelled by means of a vertical rotating fan wheel, and the direction of motion from right to left be controlled by a rudder,-

I do not confine myself to the circular form of the flying machine, or any of its compartments (1, 2, and 3), or the circular arrangement or assembling of fan wheels shown in the drawings.

A flying machine having a vertical lifting power by means of downwardly directed air currents generated by a system of horizontally rotating fans, and having a compartment extendlng some distance below said fans, into which said air currents are forced through the motion of said fans, said compartment being provided with side and end ports, adjustable covers for said ports. and means for operating said covers, said flying machine accomplishing its horizontal movements by means of the lateral discharge of said air currents through said ports.

S. H. BENOIST Witnesses:

G. H. HILES, M. E. BENOIST. 

